The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, firmly rejected the possibility of ceding territory to Russia this Saturday, after the president of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested that a potential peace agreement could involve "some exchange of land" between Kiev and Moscow.
“Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier,” Zelensky asserted in a message from his office in Kiev, warning that any decision made without Ukraine's participation would be “a decision against peace” and destined to fail. According to the New York Times, his very direct response could strain his relationship with Trump again, who has made a peace agreement one of the priorities of his foreign policy.
The statements from the Ukrainian leader come just days before the announced meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for August 15 in Alaska. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between them since Trump's return to the White House and will take place without Ukraine's participation, raising concerns in Kiev and several European capitals.
Trump suggested that the possible agreement would include “recovering some things and changing others,” without specifying which territories would be on the table. Given that Ukraine does not control any part of Russia, a potential “exchange” would involve ceding areas under Ukrainian control in exchange for territories occupied by Moscow.
This proposal clashes with the majority stance of the Ukrainian population, which, according to a recent survey, rejects the transfer of lands under Kyiv's control by more than 75%, even if that prolongs the conflict. However, support for concessions has increased since the failure of the 2023 counteroffensive, rising from 10% two years ago to 38% currently.
Russia demands that Ukraine renounce four regions it claims to have annexed in 2022: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as its aspirations to join NATO. Giving up the Donbas—especially Luhansk and Donetsk—would mean for Kiev losing key industrial centers and its main defensive line, in addition to abandoning hundreds of thousands of civilians who would be left exposed to Russian repression.
For Zelensky, accepting a territorial swap would be "a breather for the enemy before a new attack." He also pointed out that the Constitution of Ukraine defines the territory as "indivisible and inviolable," making it clear that there is no legal or political room for such concessions.
While Trump seeks to reach a quick agreement, threatening new sanctions on Moscow if it does not cease its attacks before the summit, Kiev is working to secure a place in the process, strengthening alliances in Europe and demanding a ceasefire before any negotiations.
On August 15, Alaska will be the stage for a meeting that could redefine the course of the war and the global balance of power, but if it takes place without Kiev, it would leave Ukraine in an even more vulnerable position.
Filed under:
